Thread: Ipad 2 , GPS, Phone , Music

The ipad can't be connected to much at all with a cable, so connecting to the gps is out. You need the 3G version to have GPS capability as the GPS chip is built into the 3G system. You don't need to be in 3G range or have a sim card for the GPS to work. You can play all the sounds on the ipad through the bluetooth connection provided its Apple compatible. Some bluetooth devices won't connect. The ipad is not a mobile phone, it uses 3G for data (internet). To use it as a voice guided gps you need an application like TomTom from the app store. If you are belting out some music while using the gps then the voice guidance will come in over the top of the music. Get a proper ipad car charger because the gps chews power like nothing else. It won't last the day out on a long trip using an iphone charger.

Originally Posted by land864

Please forgive me I am an IT numpty

We are thinking of getting an iPad 2 , now that the price has dropped.

We would like to set it up on a temporary but good quality mount on the dash of the County.

We would like to use it as;

1. A GPS screen simultaneously with
2. the facility to play music via Bluetooth to the car radio.

Some questions if I could.

1. Could we use the Navman GPS as the GPS receiver and hook it into the iPad via cable?
2. Could it send music streaming via bluetooth to the car radio ( assuming it also had bluetooth ) at the same time as being used as a GPS.
3. Would it be necessary for it to have 3G phone capability or Wifi?
4. Could it be used as the mobile phone whilst in car?
5. Is it best just to use the mobile phone as the mobile phoneand not bother with the 3G connection>

Pete

I think you should be right for your first two.

There is a video up on youtube showing GPS and bluetooth playback running simultaneously: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LxYmT-OaJo]iPad 3G using GPS /connected via bluetooth to car radio JVC KW-AVX820 - YouTube[/ame]

For the remaining:
1. I don't think so. There are several bluetooth and wired GPS receivers that will work with the iPhone/iPad.

The options I'm aware of are:
- GPS BT: GNS - Global Navigation Systems
- Bad Elf GPS
- Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for Today
These are all around $100US but offer better GPS capability than the inbuilt receiver.

2. See video above
3. If you want internal GPS you need to have 3G/4G enabled iPad, if you use a WiFi only, you will need an external receiver.
4. & 5. I'd suggest a dedicated phone.

cheers
Paul

I've got an iPad2 and have the vms gps software installed and find it easy to use and see, I wouldn't want one with voice cause I think when your driving on remote tracks and someone yells at you that in 1600kms make a right turn could kind of freak you out when your not expecting it. Yes gps does chew the battery but my iPhone charger has kept it going without a problem, although I haven't tried running gps and Bluetooth music 'yet'. I'll be making a custom mount for my iPad on my 93 disco dash and finding an ipad charger i can hardwire that way i have constant power and i don't have to worry about it falling off a mount while I'm climbing a mountain in the high country. It will also sit in such a way that I can use the camera/video function to capture some of the tracks I drive on. The stereo I am fitting has an iPhone/iPad connection so I believe it should work with an iPad. They're a very versatile tool that can be made to do so much.

Most stuff has been covered above, but you can only have one Bluetooth connection active at once. If you use an external Bluetooth gps you won't be able to stream music to your stereo at the same time. If you haven't bought your bluetoothe stereo yet I recommend taking your iPad and trying it out first, although when I did this they all worked ok. As others have said the iPad won't make phone calls but if you were desperate you could use Skype or similar.
Personally I would buy the 3G iPad. I know heaps of people who bought the wifi only iPad and wish they hadn't yet I don't know anyone who bought the 3G and regretted it.

Jarrod